Combined metallic cross-tie, rail-brace, and fastener.



A. LIVINGSTON.

- COMBINED METALLIC CROSS TIE,RAIL BRACE,AND FASTENEH.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20. I9I7.

. 19254941 9 Patented 1311.22, ISIII.

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ATTO RN EY INVENTOR AMOSLIVINGSTON, 0F OWEGO, NEW YORK.

QOIVIBINED METALLIC CROSS-TIE, RAIL-BRACE, AND FASTENER.

Leserin.

Application filed April 20, 1917.

To all whom t may concern.' Y

Be it known that I, Anios LIVINGSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owego, in the county of Tioga and State of N ew York, have invented a new and useful Combined Metallic Cross- Tie, Rail- Brace, and Fastener', of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to a combined metallic cross tie, rail brace and fastener for railroad tracks.

An object of the invention is to provide a metallic construction of tie and rail brace, which can be easily adjusted to the curve of the road bed, which will permit the use of shorter rails, with less space between the ends of the rails for expansion and contraction, thus saving the wear on the ends of the rails.

Another object of the invention is to provide a resilient rail fastener to be driven or forced over the base flangeV of the rail, whereby creeping of the rail is prevented, fish plates are rendered unnecessary, and the wearing life of the rails greatly increased.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention in Which: l j

Figure l is a perspective view of a section of track, showing the application of the invention thereto.v

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the track illustrating a modified form of rail fastener thereon. j,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. :2.

Fig. 4: is a detail view of another modified form of rail fastener.

In the embodiment of the invention here illustrated, themetallic construction which is preferably of steel, comprises a pair of transversely extending ties or bracing members l and 2.- These are shown as flat bars set on edge. To each end of each tie, upon opposite sides thereof, are secured channel bars 3 having vertical webs lawhich engage the ties and are fastened thereto by means of j rivets or other suitable fastening devices 5.

These channel plates 3 have horizontally eX- tending oppositely directed lower flanges 6 arranged in alinement with eachother and in substantiallyv the same plane, and upper horizontally extending oppositely directed flanges 7 likewise arranged in alinement with each other and in substantially the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 191i@ Serial No. 163,416.

same plane. The channel plates 3 are loi cated at the joints of the rails.

Located. substantially midway between each pair of transversely extending members or ties l and 2 at each side and between the ends of the rails are transversely extending Hat plates 8 to the opposite sides of which are attached channel plates 9 which I shall term the intermediate channel plates. These channel plates comprise vertically extending web portions l0 fastened to each side of the plate 8 by means of rivets or other suitable fastening devices ll, lower horizontally extending oppositely directed flanges l2 an ranged in substantially the same plane and in alinement with each other, and upper horizontally extendingl oppositely directed flanges 18 arranged in alinement with each otherl and in substantially the same plane and providing a support forl the rail. The lower flanges l2 of each plate 9 are long enough to overlap the lower flanges 6 of the channel plates 3 at one side of the track and located between the ties l and 2. Each pair of overlapping flanges G and l2 are adjustably fastened together by means of bolts 14e fixed to the flanges 6 and riding in slots la of the flanges l2, the bolts being provided with nuts 141D whereby the flanges are clamped together. By providing a sliding engagement between the overlapping flanges 6 and l2 at each side, the structure may be adjusted to the curve of the track. rIhc upper flanges 7 and 13 of the plates 3 and 9 being spaced apart or separated do not interfere with this adjustment.

It will be seen that I have provided a very rigid construction in which spreading' or any other movement of the rails is prevented. The flanges 6 and l2 provide a substantially continuous base support beneath the rails and extending lengthwise along the rails, while the rails are secured to this structure at spaced distances apart by the upper horizontal flanges 7 and f3 described.

In order to secure rails 15 to the upper horizontal flanges, I have provided angular fasteners 16 of resilient sheet steel or similar material.` Each fastener is formed of heavy sheet metal bent at an acute angle and comprises the jaws 17 and 18, between which the base flange 19 of the rail is wedged by a driving t. rPhe construction of the seat of the fastener is such that the base flange will be tightly clam pcd and pinched,

between the jaws 17 and 18 which a re wider than said flange. Bolts "2O extend through the jaws 17 and 18 of each fastei'ier, and the upper horizontal flanges 7 and 13 andsecurely hold the jaws of the fasteners to the base flange of the rail, and secure the rail to the flanges 7 and 13 by nic-ans of nutsQl. These bolts and nuts also assist in tightly clamping the jaws about the rail flange. The flanges 7 andl of the channel plates 3 and 9 are of a width transversely sufficient to support the opposed fasteners, which rest vupon said flanges.

As the fasteners 1G overlap the joints 22, sh plates will be unnecessary.

As shown in Fig. 2, the fasteners 1l' extend substantially the entire length of the rails, and cover the base flanges thereof, whereby the rail is materially strengthened and breakage thereof is prevented. As shown in Fig. 1, however, the fasteners are narrow and several are spaced apart along j the side of each'rail.

The fastener 223 illustrated in Fig. i, may, however, be used, if so desired. This fastener comprises the upper jaw 2l and the lower jaw 25, which is of a length more than twice that of the upper jaw, andl is adapted to extend entirely across the botto1n ofthe base flange of the rail, instead of only half way across. Openings 2G and 27 are provided in the fast-ener 25, through which boltsfare adapted to be inserted for fastening the same to the metallic structure or to a wooden tie (when such is used) and for clamping` the jaws against the base flange of the rail.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the fasteners have jaws of substantially the saine width, the upper jaw of each fastener fitting the upper side of the base flange of the rail and extending beyon dY the edge therevof to receive the bolts 20, while the lower jaw forms a seat or chair for the rail, covering substantially one-half of the bottom of the base flange, and also extends beyond the edgeA of the base flange to receive the bolts Q0. When fasteners of the above type are used, they are arranged in pairs directly opposite each other on opposite sides of the rail. lt will be readily understood that the fasteners 16 maybe applied to rails supported on wooden ties.

T'Vhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, for obvious modifications will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art. Y Y

What is claimed is:-

1. ln a metallic cross tie and brace,

Vspaced transversely .extending ties, spaced channel plates having their webs fastened to said ties at the ends thereof, and having upper and lower flanges projecting from opposite sides of the ties, and means forv detachably connecting together the lower flanges of the plates adjacent to each other.

2. ln a metallic cross tie and brace, the combination with spaced transversely extending ties, of spaced channel plates having their webs arranged vertically and fastened to thev ties at the ends of the latter, the ends of the ties and the plates extending beneath the rails, said plates having upper and lower horizontally disposed flanges, the width of said upper flanges beingY materially greater than the width of the base flanges of the rails, whereby when the rails are placed upon the upper flanges, a space is left on each side of the base flanges of the rails, rail fastening means supported in said spaces and connected to the upper flanges of the channel plates, and means for connecting the lower flanges of the plates in one continuous series.

3. In a metallic cross tie and brace, spaced transverselyV extending ties extended beneath the rails at their ends, said ties being formed of flat bars set on edge, channel plates having their webs fastened to the ends of said ties and also arranged bc-V neath the rails, and comprising upper and lower horizontal flanges, 'the lower flanges being longer than the upper flanges, means vfor securing the base flanges of the rails to the upper flanges, and means for connecting the lower flanges of adjacent plates. i

4. In a metallic cross tie and bracehaving a substantially continuous base extendingthefull length of the rail, and comprising overlapping portions having a bolt and slot connection with each other, whereby the base can be adjusted `around curves,- vertically extending portions rising from 4said base and terminating at their' upper ends in horizontally arranged spaced apart supports, and means for securing the railto said supports. I

5. ln ametallic cross tie andV brace, spaced transverse ties extended beneath the rails at their ends, channel platesf fastened tothe ends of said ties andalso arranged beneath the rails and comprising upper and lower horizontally extending flanges with an intermediate web fastened to the ties, intermediate channel plates arranged between the first mentioned channel plates and cornprisingjvertical webs fastened together, and upper horizontally extending flanges and lower horizontally extending flangesV projecting in opposite direction, said horizontal flanges overlapping the horizontal flanges of the Vfirst-mentioned channel plates, and a bolt and slot connection between Ysaid horizontal flanges for Vadjustably Vfastening them together.- y

6. The combination with a tie and rail, of a fastener comprising an angular plate providing spaced jaws adapted to be tightly clamped upon the base flange of the rail, and securing devices extending through the jaws and fastened to the tie.

7. The combination with a tie and rail, of a fastener comprising an angular plate having spaced jaws tightly clamped upon the base flange of the rail and securing bolts extending through the jaws and fastened to the tie.

8. A rail fastener composed of metal bent to form spaced resilient jaws adapted to be wedged upon the base flange of a rail, and bolts extending through the jaws of said fastener to draw the jaws more firmly together.

9. The combination with a tie and a rail having a base flange, of a flexible resilient angular fastener having jaws'clamped to each side of said flange and having a greater width than said flange so as to project beyond the edge of the same, bolts for clamping the jaws against the base flange, said bolts extending through the projecting portion of said jaws and secured to the tie.

l0. The combination with a rail, of a cross tie and brace having channel plates arranged transversely beneath the rail, said plates having their upper horizontal flanges constituting supports upon which said rail rests, and angular fasteners engaging the base flange of the ail and resting upon and secured to said horizontal flanges at each side of the rail base.

1l. In a metallic cross tie and brace, spaced ties, channel plates having their webs fastened to said ties at the ends thereof, and having upper and lower flanges proj ecting from opposite sides of the ties, means for detachably connecting the lower flanges of adjacent plates together, and means on the upper flanges for fastening rails thereto.

l2. In a metallic cross tie and brace, spaced transversely disposed ties, channel plates having their webs secured to said ties at the ends thereof, and having upper and lower flanges projecting from both sides of the ties, the lower flanges being overlapped,

and means for dctachably and adjustably connecting the lower flanges adjacent to each other in their overlapped relation.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed iny slgnature in the presence of two witnesses.

AMGS LIVNGSTON. l/Vitnesses:

ALBERT S. ANDREWS, "WILLIAM G. ELLrs.

Copies of this.y patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing 'the "Commissioner of Entente. Washington, D. C.

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